Istanbul: Global organisations including the UN children's agency on Monday launched a new global fund aiming to raise almost $4 billion to educate children hit by conflict and emergencies.
One in four of the world's school-aged children live in countries affected by crises, the Education Cannot Wait coalition said at the World Humanitarian Summit in Istanbul.
It said 75 million were missing out on their education or receiving sub-standard schooling.
The fund aims to reach more than 13.6 million children and youth living in crisis situations with quality education and has set a funding target of $3.85 billion over five years.
The fund's backers, who include governments and charities such as Save the Children, said on average less than 2 percent of humanitarian aid goes towards funding education.
"Action now has to happen urgently because of the sheer scale of numbers of children impacted. These young people are missing out on schooling and this is becoming a full-blown global crisis that will haunt the world for generations," said United Nations special envoy for Global Education, the former British prime minister Gordon Brown.
He said the fund could prevent the young falling under the sway of extremists.
"Never before since World War II have so many children been displaced from their homes. We are talking about the most vulnerable of them all.... we are talking about the youngest recruits to terrorism recruited by extremist organisations."
Julia Gillard, the former Australian premier who chairs the Global Partnership for Education (GPE) added: "The new fund will help to make the crucial link between humanitarian aid and long-term development ensuring that children's education is not forgotten."
However the fund faces a steep challenge in raising its ambitious target, even at a time when the world is waking up to the urgency of the need.
Rob Williams, CEO of War Child UK, which seeks to protect and help children in conflict zones, said the fund was a "breakthrough" but needed true financial commitments.
"If it is going to get anywhere near mobilising what is needed... we need to see much more financial ambition in its first year, getting to at least $150 million."
UK International Development Secretary Justine Greening said her country was making a commitment commitment of £30 million ($43.3 million).
AFP
